American activist Ara Manoogian, in a letter to Obama demanded to withdraw a congratulatory message to the President of Armenia

USA-based Ara K. Manoogian, a human rights activist, an investigative journalist sent an open letter to US President Barack Obama which runs as follows:

“Dear Mr. President,

I would like to express my concern about your congratulatory message to Serzh Sargsyan, the acting President of the Republic of Armenia, on his re-election. Your message came 12 days after the Presidential Election, which was marred with considerable election fraud. What I would like to ask you is: what changed between February 18 and March 2, to convince you that the official election results are reliable?

Your note of congratulation came amid numerous reports on election fraud, including ballot stuffing, voter bribing, voting on behalf of émigrés and deceased individuals, and multiple voting. The public outcry over these falsified official election results has escalated, with massive rallies held throughout Armenia and in other Armenian communities all around the world. Receipt of your congratulatory note also coincided with the day that OSCE/ODIHR revised its initial, generally positive assessment of the election, acknowledging the sensibility of public distrust in the official election results, and indicating facts that amount to election tampering.

I have always had respect for your adherence to democratic values and rule of law. However, I believe that your congratulatory message to Serzh Sargsyan on March 2, 2013, was a disappointing departure from your core principles.

Congratulations from such significant world powers as the United States simply legitimize election fraud and are being used by Serzh Sargsyan and the ruling elite to cement the travesty of their re-election as acceptable.

On March 4, 2013, U.S.-born Raffi Hovannisian, the presidential runner-up according to the official election results, filed a petition with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia, seeking to annul the official results of the February 18 presidential election and certify Raffi Hovannisian as President-elect.

He declared a hunger strike on March 10, 2013, until either the Constitutional Court admits that the official election results were skewed in favor of Serzh Sargsyan or the latter admits to election fraud and steps down. Raffi Hovannisian has also declared he would concede to a runoff to confirm the validity of the outcome.

Lack of response or refusal to withdraw your congratulations will result in my declaration of a hunger strike. I would humbly ask that you respect the vote and the will of the Armenian people and the independence of our Constitutional Court by retracting your untimely congratulations until the Armenian citizens themselves resolve the current political crisis.

Most respectfully yours,

Ara K. Manoogian”